Stiffening material.



No. 778,432; i PATENTED 1320.27, 1904. 7 E. K. WARREN.

STIFFBNING' MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED DEU.17, 1901.

Witlgesses:

Patented December 27, 1904r PATENT OFFiCE.

EDWARD K. VARREN, OF THREEOAKS, MICHIGAN.

STIFFENING MATERIAL.

SPECIFICATION formngpart of Letters Patent No. 778,432, dated December27, 1904.

Application filed December 17, 1901'. Serial No. 86,188.

To MZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD K. WARREN, a citizen of the United States,residing at the village of Threeoaks, in the county of Berrien and Stateof Michigan, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements inStiffening -Material, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a new and improved corset-stiffener ordress-stay manufactured from whalebone. Whalebone in its naturalcondition other than the highest grade is often quite porous and spongy,and in the higher grades it is quite likely to split when bended undertension. Again, it can be procured only in very short lengths, and thereis consequently great waste in cutting it into proper lengths for use.Another objection to it is that in its natural condition it cannot bestitched through for attaching to garments.

This invention relates to an improved method of treating whaleboneand toanimproved product therefrom, the object being to provide a stiffenerconstructed of whalebone which can be made in continuous lengths, inwhich the tendency to split is overcome, and

\ which is so prepared that' it may be readily stitched through, andthis is all accomplished without adding to the bulk of the whalebone orincreasing its` thickness, but the process rather results in thecompacting of the same.

This is especially true of the spongy whalebone, improving its qualityand increasing its elasticity so that it approximates in quality thefinest grades of whalebone, and its tendency to split under stress isentirely overcome. Minor objects of the invention will clearly appearfrom the detailed description to follow.

l accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and meansdescribed in this specilication.

The invention is clearly defined, and pointed out in the claim,

A structure embodying the features of my invention and illustrating theeffect of the different steps of the process thereon is fullyillustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecication, in which- Figure l is an enlarged detail view of a shortsection of my improved. whalebone stiffener. Fig. 2 1s a cross-sectionof the structure appearing in Fig. l before the same has been processed.Fig. 3 is such a cross-sectional view after the processing. Fig. l is adetail view of the stiffener in about the usual size after itscompletion.

In the drawings similar letters of reference refer to similar partsthroughout the several views.

Referring to the lettered parts of the drawings, A A are strips ofwhalebone cut to about the size indicated, the ends of the strips beingbeveled and overlapped. Between these strips is a cord of soft material,and Wrapped around strips and the central cord are wrapping-threads C C,preferably wound crosswise upon each other, although a single layer ofthe winding would be found to be quite effective. The double winding ispreferred, however, as a finer thread can be utilized and a closerwinding be secured in that way. When this winding is completed, a lineof stitching D is made down through the soft central oord B, strongtension being put upon the sewing-thread, so that the winding-threads CC will be drawn down and onto the whalebone. This clearly appears inFig. 2, and by this means a very 'close wrapping of the wrapping-threadC is secured. The structure is then subjected to a suitable sizingmaterial by being immersed in a solution containing glue or othersuitable adhesives. yThe blade then is heated to such an extent as tomaterially soften the texture of the strips of bone A A, when the bladesare subjected to heavy pressure, either that of rolls or dies, and re-Atained under pressure until the softened material is set again, when itwill be found that the wrapping-threads C C adhere to the whalebone andare substantially embedded therein and that each of these threads isretained independently by the stitching D at the center, so that thebreaking of a considerable number of these threads will not relaxl thetension on the others. The finished blade willbe found to be as smoothas ordinary whalebonethat has not been treated. Its toughness is greatlyenhanced, as the wrapping-threads prevent any tendency to split, and thesoft portion at the center enables it to be attached to a garmentWithout any tendency to split, because 5 the needle does not penetratethe substance of the bone.

The treatment by wrapping the thread and treating the bone to a sizing,hea-t, and pressure in this way would be of advantage whether a centralcord were inserted or not, as it overcomes entirely the tendency of thebone to split without increasing its bulk, but rather decreases the bulkoi' the spongy bone and makes it as effective and desirable as the T5shell-whalebone itself for any ordinary use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

In a stiii'ening material the combination of strips of whalebone with atextile cord between the same; wrapping-threads around the whole; a lineof stitching,` through the central soft cord ol the stitfener to retainthe wrapping-threads in positiomthe wrapping-threads being,` embedded inthe bone and adhering thereto.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presenceof two witnesses.

EDIVARD K. IVARRICN. I'L. .sul Titnessesz Moinns Gr. MCGMVN, MARY A.DAvInsoN.

